Trenching machine with power steering mechanism including means for laterally shifting an end of the machine



April 20, 1965 w. D. BROWN 3,178,838 TRENCHING MACHINE WITH POWER STEERING MECHANISM INCLUDING MEANS FOR LATERALLY SHIFTING AN END OF THE MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. D

April 20, 1965 w. D. BROWN 3,178,833

TRENCHING MACHINE WITH POWER STEERING MECHANISM INCLUDING MEANS FOR LATERALLY SHIFTING AN END OF THE MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,178,838 TRENCHING MACHINE WITH PUWER STEER- ING MECHANISM INCLUDING MEANS FOR LATERALLY SHIFTING AN END OF THE MACHINE William Delbert Brown, Woodbine, Iowa, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Brown Manufacturing Corporation, a corporation of Nebraska Filed Dec. 18, 1962, Ser. No. 245,561 7 Claims. (Cl. 37-86) This invention relates to a trenching machine and, more particularly, to power steering mechanism therefor.

At the present time, there are different types of trenching machines, all of which are similar to the extent of having a frame with ground-engaging wheels or tracks for transport thereof and cutting mechanism positionable to cut a trench in the ground. During a trenching operation with the cutters mounted on a boom or wheel disposed within the ground, it is extremely difficult to change the direction of travel of the machine.

An object of this invention is to provide relatively simple, but easily operated and effective power steering mechanism for a trenching machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide power steering mechanism for a trenching machine which may be easily adapted to existing machines as an attachment therefor or built into the machine in initial manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide power steering mechanism for a trenching machine in which two independently operable members are movably mounted on the frame of the machine, with the operation of one member being dependent upon the direction in which the trenching machine is to be turned, with each member being mounted at a slight angle to the vertical, whereby lowering thereof into engagement with the ground results in transfer of weight to the member with the resultant lateral shift of the machine until the member has moved to a position more nearly horizontal, at which time the machine weight is removed from the member and the machine travels along in the newly determined direction.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the trenching machine with the power steering mechanism in an inoperative position;

FIG. 2 is a vertical, fragmentary section taken generally along the line 2--2 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view taken looking toward the right-hand end of the machine as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the machine after actuation of the power steering mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view, taken looking in the direction of the line 5-5 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail an embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The trenching machine shown in the drawings and indicated generally at 10 is generally of the type shown in applicants Patent No. 2,828,557, dated April 1, 1958, and reference may be made thereto for specific details of the machine construction.

Generally, the trenching machine embodies a frame having a pair of spaced-apart side plates 11 and 12 (FIG. 3) which support spaced-apart front and rear axles 13 and 14, respectively. The front axle has ground engaging support members, in the form of wheels 15 and 16, while the rear axle 14 has similar wheels 17 and 18.

A handle structure 20 is supported at the front of the frame of the machine and extends forwardly therefrom with a trench-cutting mechanism indicated generally at 21 positioned at the rear of the machine. The trenchcutting mechanism, in the form disclosed herein, embodies a boom 22 pivotally mounted on the frame for movement about an axis 23 between an upper withdrawn position and a trench-cutting position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The boom has a chain 24, extending above and below along the length thereof, carrying cutters 25 which cut the trench in the ground. The chain 24 is driven from a drive mechanism through a chain 26 driven from the sprocket 27 on the power shaft 23.

In order to convey dirt laterally away from the trench that is formed, suitable mechanism is provided and, as shown, comprises an auger 29 driven from the power shaft 28.

With the trenching machine in operation, the cutting mechanism is positioned within the ground and fairly well confined within a space defined by the cutters forming the trench. This renders it difiicult to change the direction of machine travel, which is from left to right as viewed in FIG. 1. The power steering mechanism to be described enables the direction to be changed easily.

The power steering mechanism is disposed at the front of the machine and comprises a pair of selectively operable ground-engaging members and 41 movable about the front axle 13. The member 46 is mounted on an arm 42 affixed to a sleeve 43 rotatable about the axle 13. The ground-engaging member 41 is mounted on a similar arm 44 secured to a sleeve 45 rotatable about the axle 13. The members 40 and 41 may be in the form of foot members or pads; however, as shown herein, each of these members is in the form of a roller or wheel each of which is rotatably mounted in fork frames 47 and 48, respectively.

The roller 40 constitutes a right turn member and for this purpose is mounted at a slight angle to the vertical and inclined downwardly toward the left of the machine, these directions being taken looking in the direction of machine travel. The roller 41 constitutes a left turn member and is positioned at a slight angle to the vertical and inclined downwardly to the right of the machine.

The mounting for each of the rollers 40 and 41 is of the same construction, with that for the roller 40 being shown in FIGS. 3-6. The fork 47 has a sleeve 50 secured to the top thereof which is loosely fitted on the mounting arm 42 with an adjustable collar 51 on the arm 42 having a lug 52 engageable with a pin 53 extending from the sleeve 50. The roller 49 is urged by gravity to the position shown in full line in FIG. 3 and the engagement between the lug 52 and pin 53 prevents the roller 40 from moving to a vertical position. However, the roller 40 is free to move to a more nearly horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 4.

The roller 40 is powered for movement between the full line positons of FIGS. 3 and 4 by a power cylinder of} pivotally mounted to the frame and having a piston rod 61 pivotally connected at 62 to a bracket 63 secured to the mounting arm 42. This cylinder is single acting and spring loaded to return and is controlled from a control station indicated at 65 on the handle 24) which determines the flow of pressure fluid to the cylinder.

In operation if it is desired to turn the machine toward the right, pressure fluid is supplied to the rear end of 3 the cylinder 60 which moves the roller 40 from the full line position tothe broken line position shown in FIG 3 in which a raised rim 66 of the roller makes contact with the ground as indicated at C. Continued force results in the transfer of at least part of the machine weight to the roller 40 and its supporting structure to lessen the weight on the front axle wheels and =16 and enable them to easily shift in a lateral direction along the ground, with the position of themachineupon completion of this movement being shown FIG. 4. The extent of lateral movement of the front wheels is determined by the initial angle of the roller 40. Lateral shift of the machine continues until the roller 40 has, moved to an angle of approximately 45 to-the ground, at which time the-roller is free to move to a position more nearly horizontal with the weight of the machine being removed therefrom. The adjustable collar 51 determines the initial angle of the roller 40. Thus, by adjustment of the collar 51, the distance of lateral shift on each actuation of the roller 40 can be determined.

If the machine --is to-be turned toward the left, a similar operation takes place, with operation of the roller 41 instead of the roller 40. The roller 41 has its own actuating cylinder 70 controlled from thecontrol panel 65 and is mounted by the structure shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 in connection with the roller 40. 7

With the power steering'mechanism disclosed herein, it is possibleto turn the machine, even though the cutting mechanism is in operation with the entire machine being shifted in direction about the cutting mechanism as a pivot point. control panel 65 the desired vnumber of times to place the machine in a new path of travel.

I claim:

1. A trenching machine comprising, in combination, a frame having ground-engaging wheels supported by fixed axle means to provide a generally straight path of movement for the machine, trench cutting means on said frame adjacent a rear end thereof including a movable boom and chain-carried cutters traveling along said boom, and power steering means for said machine comprising, a

pairof angled members positioned beside each other adjacent a front end of the frame remote fromsaid boom, separate mounting meansfor each member, said members being normally held above the ground with'one being a light turn member angled downwardly tothe leftand-the other a left turn memberangled downwardly to the right, and power means connected independently to eachof said arms whereby actuation of one arm movesthe associated member into engagement-with the ground and the frame is lifted and oifsetto effect a pivoting of the frame about the boom to change the direction of machine travel.

2. A trenching machine having power steering comprising, a frame with ground-engaging wheels, cutting mechanism mounted on said frame, and power steering means including a pair of rotatable members, means mounting each' of said members on the frame for inmembers on the associated arms for rotation about said arms, with limited rotational movement of the members in one direction to hold the members at a relatively small angle to the vertical while permitting rotation of the members in the other direction to 'move the members toward a horizontal position, and power means connected independently to each of said member arms whereby actuation of one member moves the member into engagement with the ground and theframe is lifted and offset until the member angle changes sufficiently to permit upward pivoting of the memberwith resultant release of the frame weight from the member. a

4. A trenching machine comprising, in combination, a frame having ground-engaging wheels supported by fixed axle means to provide a generally straight path .of movement for the machine, trenchcutting means on said frame, and power steering means for said machine comprising, a pair of rollers positioned beside each other," separate mounting means for each roller each including an arm pivotally mounted on said frame for movement about an axis transverse of the frame with the roller mounted on the arm'for rotation of the roller about said arm,

7 and means for limiting rotation ofthe roller in one direcangled downwardly to the left and the other a left turn An operator need only operate the roller angled downwardly to the right, and power means connected independently to each of said roller arms whereby actuation of one roller moves the roller into engagement with the ground and the frame is lifted and offset until .the roller angle changes sufficiently to permit upward pivoting of the roller'with resultant return of the frame weight to the ground-engaging wheels.

5. A trenching machine comprising, in combination: a frame having ground-engaging wheels supported by fixed axle means to provide a generally straight path of move.- ment for the machine; trench cutting means on said frame adjacent a rear end thereof including a movable boom and chain-carried cutters traveling-along said boom; and power steering means for said machine comprising, a pair of rollers positioned beside each other adjacent a front end of the frame remote from said boom, separate mount! ing means for each roller, each mounting means including an arm pivotally mounted on said frame for movetivelysmall angle to the vertical while permitting rotation of the roller in the otherdirection to move the roller toward" a horizontal position; said rollers being normally held above the ground with one being a right turn roller angled downwardly to the left and the other a left turn dependent movement between an inoperative position and g a ground-engaging position, power means for moving one of said members against the ground, and means including a pivot joint in the mounting of each member which holds said member at a minimum angle to the ground but permits increase in said angle'lwhereby transfer of ma chine weight to said one member from the ground-engaging wheels results in lateral shift of the frame with said one member pivoting to a'greater angle to the ground to permit transfer of weight back to the ground-engaging wheels. V v V 3.. A trenching machine comprising, in combination, a frame supported for movement along the ground, trench cutting means on said frame, and power steering means for said machine comprising, a pair of members, separate L v above the ground with one being a right turnroller roller angled downwardly to the right; and power means connected independently to each of said roller arms whereby actuation of one roller moves the roller intoengagement with the ground and the frame .is lifted andfoffset until the roller angle changes, sufiiciently to permit upward pivoting of the roller toward the horizontal with resultant return of the frame weight to the groundengaging wheels. o 7

6. A trenching machine comprising, in combination, a frame having ground-engaging wheels supported by fixed axle means to provide a generally straight pathrof movement for the machine, trench cutting means on said frame, and power steering means for said machine com-i prising, a pair of, angled rollers positioned beside each other adjacent-an end of thefframe, separate mounting means for each roller, said' rollers being normally held angled downwardly to'the 'left and the other a left turn roller angled downwardly to the right, and power means for actuating either of said mounting means independently of the other, whereby actuation of one of said mounting means moves the associated roller into engagement with the ground and the frame is lifted and offset to change the direction of machine travel without interrupting the action of the trench cutting means.

7. Power steering means for a trenching machine having a frame supported for movement along the ground, and trench cutting means on said frame, said power steering means comprising, a pair of members, separate mounting means for each member each including an arm pivotally mounted on said frame for movement about an axis transverse of the frame, means mounting the members on the associated arms for rotational movement of the members in one direction and holding the members at a relatively small angle to the vertical While permitting rotation of the members in said one direction to move the members toward a horizontal position, and power means for actuating either of said member arms whereby actuation of one member moves the member in a ground engaging direction whereby the frame is lifted and offset until the member angle changes sufliciently to permit upward pivoting of the member with resultant release of the frame Weight from the member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 241,820 5/81 Omwake 3794 1,077,082 10/ 13 Kliment. 2,041,654 5/36 Dame. 3,043,029 7/62 Allard 37-86 3,057,088 10/62 George.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner. 

2. A TRENCHING MACHINE HAVING POWER STEERING COMPRISING, A FRAME WITH GROUND-ENGAGING WHEELS, CUTTING MECHANISM MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, AND POWER STEERING MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF ROTATABLE MEMBERS, MEANS MOUNTING EACH OF SAID MEMBERS ON THE FRAME FOR INDEPENDENT MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN INOPERATIVE POSITION AND A GROUND-ENGAGING POSITION, POWER MEANS FOR MOVING ONE OF SAID MEMBERS AGAINST THE GROUND, AND MEANS INCLUDING A PIVOT JOINT IN THE MOUNTING OF EACH MEMBER WHICH HOLDS SAID MEMBER AT A MINIMUM ANGLE TO THE GROUND BUT PERMITS INCREASE IN SAID ANGLE WHEREBY TRANSFER OF MACHINE WEIGHT TO SAID ONE MEMBER FROM THE GROUND-ENGAGING WHEELS RESULTS IN LATERAL SHIFT OF THE FRAME WITH SAID ONE MEMBER PIVOTING TO A GREATER ANGLE TO THE GROUND TO PERMIT TRANSFER OF WEIGHT BACK TO THE GROUND-ENGAGING WHEELS. 